Compare towns
Highgate vs Pawlet vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Highgate | Pawlet | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,480 |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Highgate and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Highgate and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$3,924Highest 22% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 32% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mettawee School District #84 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.